‘Messi v Ronaldo’- Are you hoping for epic World Cup final?

Former Socceroo Harry Kewell isn’t holding out much hope of Australia making it far at the World Cup and is instead keen to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off in the final.

An Argentina and Portugal decider in Russia is a possibility should Argentina top Group D and the Portuguese finish second In Group B, with both then on track to meet in the final should they make it there.

Drawn alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria, Argentina are a strong chance of finishing first in their group, while Portugal may have to settle for second with Spain, Morocco and Iran facing them in Group B.

“I think that would be the pinnacle because then they could fight it out to see who is the very best in the world.

“I think there are a lot of wonderful players going to be on showcase at the World Cup this year.”

Messi fell painfully short of World Cup triumph in 2014 as Argentina fell 1-0 to Germany in the final and also went on to lose successive Copa America finals.

Ronaldo on the other hand, saw his Portugal side claim the 2016 European Championships just two years after they weren’t able to escape their World Cup group in Brazil.

Having himself scored for Australia at the 2006 World Cup as the Socceroos made it to the knockout stages before falling to eventual champions Italy, Kewell is optimistic about a possible repeat of those heroics from his nation in Russia.

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“Hopefully, (Australia) get through the group stages,” he said.

“I know that people might say it’s a big ask but I think they have drawn a group in which it is possible that they could get out.

“I understand that we have France first which is difficult. Then obviously there is Denmark – the order isn’t great. If we can sneak something in against France or Denmark, then at least Peru are very open and anything can happen.”